About Playback

What is Playback?
Playback Theater is a unique form of improvisational performance that celebrates the stories of all people. In Playback, members of the audience are invited to come forward and share their true, personal stories. Audiences have shared everything from past memories to future dreams, with a whole range of experiences in between. Actors then recreate these stories on the spot, through the art of improvised movement, music, dialogue, and imagery. Playback seeks to discover and honor the fantastic vitality inherent in every individual.

A Bit of History
The Playback form was originally developed in 1975 in New York State by Jo Salas and Jonathan Fox. It is now practiced in many languages by groups all over the world. Since 1995, international Playback festivals have been held in places as far away as Japan.